The Fort Duquesne Bridge is a steel tied arch bridge that spans the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was colloquially referred to as the Bridge to Nowhere. It was constructed from 1958-1963 by PennDOT, and opened for traffic October 17, 1969. The bridge was given the name "The Bridge to Nowhere" because the main span was finished in 1963, but due to delays in acquiring right of ways for the northern approach ramps, it did not connect on the northside of the Allegheny River. The lack of approach ramps meant the bridge ended in midair, rendering it useless. The northwestern ramps were completed in 1969, allowing access to Pennsylvania State Route 65. The northeastern ramps were completed in 1986, with the construction of the northern section of Interstate 279 (North Shore Expressway) which runs a half moon through Downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and north and south towards Interstate 79. Presently, all ramps have been completed and the term Bridge to Nowhere has been erased from most Pittsburghers minds.
Fort Duquesne Bridge | |
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| Coordinates | 40°26′39″N 80°00′33″W / 40.4443°N 80.0093°W |
| Carries | 8 lanes (4 upper, 4 lower) of I-279 Pedestrian Walkway on downriver side of the lower deck |
| Crosses | Allegheny River |
| Locale | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Other name(s) | The Bridge to Nowhere |
| Maintained by | PennDOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double-decked Steel Bowstring Arch bridge |
| Longest span | 130 meters (426 feet) |
| Clearance below | 14 meters (46 feet) |
| History | |
| Opened | October 17, 1969 |
| Location | |
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The bridge touches down halfway between Heinz Field and PNC Park Baseball Stadium on the City's North Shore.
On December 12, 1964, a 21 year old chemistry major at the University of Pittsburgh drove a 1959 Chrysler station wagon off the end of the bridge and landed unhurt on the other side. His adventure is documented in WQED-TV's Mid-Atlantic Region Emmy Award winning documentary "Flying off the Bridge to Nowhere and Other Tales of Pittsburgh Bridges", narrated by Rick Sebak.
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